Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Next on the horizon...

Year end ratings are still probably a few weeks away (though in some years they've come come out in mid-November), but that other thread was just getting too long.

The successes of Houston and Texas teams at Nationals this year, combined with the rumored "evening out of the levels" would seem to indicate that there will be more bump-ups than usual. And few, if any, bumpdowns. Remember, last year there was only one (maybe I'm forgetting someone) bumpdown from 4.5 to 4.0 (JJ Deleon). Don't expect to see many more this time around.

WTT is on December 5th & 6th.The 3.0 and 4.0 levels play on December 5th.The 3.5 and 4.5 levels play on December 6th.If you win the event, you have the opportunity to attend a National Qualifier. Most people choose to travel to Las Vegas. Last year there were 6 teams representing Houston in Las Vegas. Let me know if you are interested in attending.

Go to www.wtt.comClick on Local Leagues & TournamentsChoose Rec LeaguesClick on "Check out all the WTT Leagues by City" and look for Houston, TXor click on the following link to go directly to the registration site:http://www.wttrec.com/recleag/league_info.asp?LeagueID=4518&City=Houston&State=TX&Name=Houston,%20TX%20Copperfield%20Racquet%20and%20Health%20Club&from=join&shw=gi

Houston Men have dominated 4.5/5.0 in Texas Tennis. For you to downplay a team losing at Nationals must mean you've never been to Nationals. Nationals was decided by a few points NOT by a bad line up.

WTT is a fun event. Its a great atmosphere but, I will say its a lot different than league tennis. Switching players and playing lets brings some excitement to the game. If you are playing this event than you better be prepared for some high paced tennis.

Agreed there is no comparison in skill level between low-rated vs. high-rated within a level. There's not enough levels to ever make that possible, but that's just how it is. Same with professional circuit - there's the cream-of-the-crop and the wannabe's.

It's not a matter of trying to fix the system. It's a matter of trying to work within the system and the perennial "power captains" are to be credited for working within these confines.

I haven't played on one of their league teams, but have talked with them on occassion and have nothing but respect for what they try to accomplish.

Every year, people complain or give accolades about the NTRP system, but the bottom line is, you can please some of the people some of the time, but....

The deal is this. It doesn't matter what the system is in regards to coming up with player ratings. When there was visual ratings, before DNTRP and self-rating, the same teams were taking their teams to Sectionals / Nationals. Don't think Freeman was around back then but certainly Red, Green, Hollis...

If I were a highly ranked player within my respective level I would seek out the best team at my level, the team most likely to advance and try to get on that team. The captains who do the leg-work over a year in advance, yes over a year - (I'm certain Betsie, Red, and Tim are already eyeing players for their 2011 teams) deserve the credit, regardless of what they nay-sayers say, for consistently, year-in and year-out, finding the best talent in the city.

I send out rosters close to the event so everyone can see who's participating. Red Benzon and Betsie Hollis are putting a team together. Michael Letan is putting his team back together with Odion, Omon, among several others. I know that there is a team that will be submitted including Brian Smith, who just came back from Nationals at the 5.0 level. There are several 4.0, 3.5 and 3.0 teams applying as well. So get a team together and register! You will have a great time.

1. Deucebags- enough said2. Westside Black Sheep- 2 key bump downs3. Hurricanes- Tough for them to repeat4. Schwinng- depends on their singles5. Kingwood- can they rebuild6. Copperfield- can they beef up their doubles line up?

The Deucebags were capable of beating any team last year. Its to bad they didn't have James Bui at Sectionals. If Hasker gets bumped they will reload with Alex Beaux and Bui. Either way they will come to play next summer. The only question is where will the other line come from? Their doubles teams lack experience but, I know Alain is hungry to make a return trip to Sectionals.

Ward talks a big game. He has never done anything in league tennis nor will he do anything in the near future. Lets face reality here, Alain's a nice guy but, his downfall will happen if Ward has any say so in the Deucebags.

Question - given who we suspect will get bumped to 5.0 is it possible with the talent that is left to combine the best players in the league and have a viable nationals contender? And who would be on that team?

Houston will not have a National Contender 4.5 team this year. Deucebags will be a top contender to represent Houston at Sectionals. Other than that they still will lack the experience to go all the way. All that is certain is that the local Houston league will be very competitive this upcoming year.

Houston will not have a National Contender 4.5 team this year. Deucebags will be a top contender to represent Houston at Sectionals. Other than that they still will lack the experience to go all the way. All that is certain is that the local Houston league will be very competitive this upcoming year.

I wouldn't put it pass Jason/Red to put together another team next year to challenge going to Nationals. Maybe one of the other cities will put together a "super" team. Which city do you think has the best chance to do this, or do they have too many established teams with big egos?

4.5 and 5.0 will never change. You have to have a loaded team to be competitive at the Nationals level. 3 teams have been to Nationals in 4.5 out of those teams NONE have made it out of their pool. Just goes to show how competitive league really is. Even Betsies teams have never seen Sunday. Houston will be underdogs this year for sure.

You may not agree with how Red, Betsie and Jason captain their teams, but the bottom line is that they play within the USTA rules and they do an awesome job at recruiting. Look at their results. They find a way to send teams to the National Championships while we all sit at home and complain that we didn't get to go.

If you're getting to Nationals 3,4,5 times (as all the captains that were mentioned have been), you're not a minor leaguer. And anyone who says that, has obviously never been to Nationals. When you get to Nationals it's always a matter of a few TBs, sets, games, points that decide the winner. The top 20-25% of the teams are all equally eligible to win. Hate to say it but it simply comes down to line-ups and whether your players bring it or not.

Part of league tennis is not just having a strong team, but also having a team that is committed all season long. In many scenarios key players are missing at Sectionals/Nationals. Betsie's team may have won but, again she did all she could do to field the best team possible.

Is there ever a time when a Captain whom has won Sectionals and competed at Nationals wasn't criticized?

The draws for the all of the divisions will be divided into groups of 4 teams. Each group will play each other once. The winner from that group advances to their choice of a National Qualifier. Choices include: Las Vegas, NV (Darlington Tennis Center); Bradenton, FL (Bolliterri Academy); Kansas City, MO (Plaza Tennis Center); Irvine, CA (Heritage Park); Lancaster, PA; Wilmington, DE; and Houston, TX has been added for 2010 at the end of August!

Getting a team to Nationals is an elusive feat for most so there will always be cause for speculation when someone takes a team multiple times. It's easy to sit behind your monitors and sling criticism, accusations and false assumptions. I, myself, am glad and respect the fact that there are captains out there such as Red, Tim, Betsie, Jason - who put in the time and effort to form these super teams. I've heard it all as far as how they do it, but no real proof. They just put in the research to recruit the best players. It is good for Houston tennis and otherwise, we wouldn't have something to bitch about on the blog. Let's take down Austin, Dallas, and San Antonio every year. I'm just sorry they have to take a year off.

There are still a lot of people that haven't registered as of yet. I will produce a roster next Wednesday but you would have to email me directly at lance.loken@woodgroup.com in order to see it. If anyone is interested in participating, it's an awesome event! Go to www.wtt.com and look under local cities for Houston. you will see all of the details. There are a lot of great players participating and even some teams from San Antonio!